Interview with Randy Barker CEO of Intent

4/39/2024: 10th Episode of my Ag Uncensored Podcast

Apr 30, 2024

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Opening Thoughts:

This was sort of new for me as this is the first time Randy and myself actually talked and met even though we’ve been around each other many times in the Precision Ag and AgTech spaces.

That didn’t seem to matter though as when two people are in the same field and have similar passions it’s like talking to an old friend. I’ll say for me it did feel that way and I’m almost disappointed in myself that we haven’t connected earlier.

All in all, I had a great time talking with Randy and we go through a lot of things in the conversations beyond some of the background of Intent. They are doing some cool things in the verification of a ton of products and the data around it all. Really that is needed more and more due to the crazy complexity that agronomy plays and without understanding the efficacy and ROI of these things, what’s the point.

You’ll definitely want to listen and watch this one as it maybe was for me the most intriguing talk back and forth as we connect to a lot of the realities within the placement of Agtech in the real world.

Here’s the Summary:

In this episode of Ag Uncensored, host Nathan Faleide interviews Randy Barker, CEO of Intent, a company in the AgTech space. They discuss the evolution of precision agriculture practices from Western Canada and the US, the challenges of proving the effectiveness of AgTech solutions, and the role of AI and ML in agriculture. They also touch on the importance of agronomy and the need for practicality and skepticism when it comes to adopting new technologies.

The conversation explores the challenges and debates surrounding the adoption of new agricultural technologies and equipment. It delves into the dilemma faced by farmers when deciding whether to upgrade to expensive, high-tech equipment or stick with their current, reliable tools. The conversation also touches on the limited market size for advanced agricultural technology and the importance of understanding the needs and preferences of farmers. It highlights the need for trust and confidence in the use of data in agriculture and the value of long-term, sustainable approaches in the industry.

In this final part of the conversation, Nathan and Randy discuss the challenges and opportunities in the agriculture industry. They touch on topics such as investment strategies, the importance of understanding the financial aspects of farming, the need for smart decision-making in corporate agriculture, and the potential risks and benefits of biologicals in agriculture. They emphasize the importance of self-governance and responsible innovation in the industry.

Takeaways

Precision agriculture has evolved significantly in Western Canada and the US, with the birth of precision ag practices and the use of imagery.
Proving the effectiveness of AgTech solutions is a challenge due to the complexity and variability of agricultural systems.
AI and ML have the potential to augment human capabilities in agriculture, but proper training and testing are necessary for successful implementation.
Agronomy and traditional agricultural practices still play a crucial role in decision-making, and should not be overlooked in favor of new technologies.
Adopting new technologies in agriculture requires a balance of optimism and practicality, as well as a deep understanding of the economic realities of farming. Farmers face a dilemma when deciding whether to upgrade to expensive, high-tech equipment or stick with their current, reliable tools.
The market size for advanced agricultural technology is limited, and it is crucial to understand the needs and preferences of farmers.
Trust and confidence are essential in the use of data in agriculture, and companies should prioritize privacy and value creation for farmers.
Long-term, sustainable approaches are necessary in the agriculture industry, and quick wins should not overshadow the importance of learning and building lasting value. Understanding the financial aspects of farming is crucial for success in the industry.
Smart decision-making is essential in corporate agriculture to avoid making sweeping changes that can negatively impact the industry.
The use of biologicals in agriculture presents both opportunities and risks, and careful monitoring and evaluation are necessary.
Self-governance and responsible innovation are important for the sustainable growth of the agriculture industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

09:21 Challenges in Proving the Effectiveness of AgTech Solutions

30:53 The Upgrade Dilemma

46:38 The Importance of Long-Term, Sustainable Approaches

01:01:34 Navigating the Financial Aspects of Farming

01:09:39 The Potential Risks and Benefits of Biologicals in Agriculture

01:19:09 The Importance of Self-Governance and Responsible Innovation in Agriculture

Watch and Listen:

Here are the links below to listen and view the podcast and/or scroll down to read the summary and watch it here!

www.AgUnsenored.com - All podcast links here to subscribe to.

Ag Uncensored YouTube channel - A link to this specific episode and my page

Podbean - https://aguncensored.podbean.com/e/randybarker/

Spotify -

Apple - Click the underlined link if the below widget doesn’t open (seems like it only doesn’t work in some email systems)

Closing Thoughts:

One thing I want to highlight from this talk is once again just the raw need for more and more people to dig into the data and reality of how everything affects and reacts with any type of tech in agriculture.

Sometimes we get caught easily into the hype or even “plot” data trials from the solutions themselves without rigorous testing and quantification. While Randy and his team are part of that equation, in general we all need to do better.

For the last 10 years or so it feels many have sort of side tracked that process just to increase perceived value and users. We need to get back to the basic agronomic and scientific processes that verify what does and doesn’t work again. While before it wasn’t perfect either and plenty were and have continued to do this we at times almost get lazy in doing these things.

For AgTech solutions to work and show their real value we need to get back into the dirt literally and figuratively. We need to do better showing what works and what doesn’t.